Colorado drought task force activated amid low snowpack

Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday activated Colorado’s Drought Task Force and Phase 2 of the state’s Drought Response Plan as low snowpack and record warmth worsen drought conditions across the state.

The action follows recommendations from the state’s Water Conditions Monitoring Committee and other agencies. The task force will assess local, regional and sector impacts and coordinate information across state agencies and communities.

“Colorado is experiencing the warmest year so far in our 131-year record, and one of the driest,” Polis said. “Activating the Drought Task Force will help ensure we are protecting one of our most precious resources by closely tracking impacts, supporting communities and coordinating better as we prepare for the year ahead.”

The task force, last activated in 2020, includes leaders from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Department of Local Affairs and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

State officials said temperatures since October mark the warmest start to a water year in the Colorado Climate Center’s 131-year record. Statewide snow water equivalent ranks among the lowest in more than four decades of records.

About one-third of Colorado is experiencing severe drought or worse, with extreme and exceptional drought in parts of the Colorado River headwaters region.

“Drought does not impact every community in the same way,” said Lauren Ris, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. “The Drought Task Force helps the state understand where impacts are being felt the most and elevates those local challenges so we can better coordinate response and support communities across Colorado.”

The Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Water Conditions Monitoring Committee will continue tracking drought indicators including snowpack, precipitation, temperature, streamflow, soil moisture and reservoir storage.

If conditions worsen, the governor could move the state into Phase 3 of the Drought Response Plan, which includes an official drought declaration.